Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Auberge’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Auberge’ particularly characterized by flowers which are yellow with orange/red stripes and spots; labellum is white with some purple and yellow and some orange/red spots; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Auberge’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Auberge’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red- brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Auberge’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventors, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Auberge’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 1999 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Peterstar’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Sogo Lawrence’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Auberge’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2006 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture was first performed in July, 2007 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Auberge’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are yellow with orange/red stripes and spots;         labellum is white with some purple and yellow and some         orange/red spots;     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and     -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Auberge’, the female parent ‘Peterstar’ has bronze colored flowers with white at the base, and the labellum is purple with some white. The male parent ‘Sogo Lawrence’ has yellow colored flowers with red/purple stripes/spots and a purple labellum, whereas the flowers of ‘Auberge’ are yellow with orange/red stripes/spots, and the labellum is white with yellow and purple.

Presently, the most commercially similar cultivars to ‘Auberge’ are the parental cultivars, to which a comparison is provided above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Auberge’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Auberge’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Auberge’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of ‘Auberge’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Auberge’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Auberge’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Auberge’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Auberge’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Auberge’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Auberge’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Auberge’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Auberge’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Peterstar’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Sogo Lawrence’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 4 mm-7             mm wide and yellow/green (RHS 147C); freely branching. It             takes 12 weeks for plants growing in Tissue culture to             initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 47 to 51 cm. Spread: about 30 to 33 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Small; green (RHS N137A) leaves and relatively             normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 2 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 7 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval/pointy tips and asymmetric.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Mature leaf length.—About 13 to 20 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—About 6 to 10 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—Green (RHS N137A).         -   Mature leaf color (under surface).—Green (RHS 137A).         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of mid vein: upper             surface green (RHS N139A), under surface: green (RHS 137D). -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—About 5 to 11.         -   Length.—About 27 to 49 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—Green (RHS N137B).         -   Internode.—Length: about 32 to 42 mm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 18 to 21 mm. Diameter             (at midpoint): About 11 to 16 mm. Shape: egg-shaped. Color:             yellow/green (RHS N144D).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2             racemes appear with about 16 to 20 flower buds and flowers             per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected             approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a             leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—Fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of             Phalaenopsis orchid; see FIG. 2. Size (of single bloom):             Height: about 50 to 60 mm. Diameter: about 50 to 60 mm.             Depth of tube: about 4 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: three petals and three             sepals that are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2             whorls. Petals are more pronounced than sepals. Arrangement:             Inner whorl comprises 3 petals, 2 lateral petals and             labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall shape: rhombic. Apex:             oval. Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Base: broadly             ovate. Length: about 20 to 25 mm. Width: about 25 to 30 mm.             Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny. Under surface:             smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): main color             young flower is yellow (RHS 3A), spots/stripes are             orange/red (RHS N34A); the color of the older flowers is RHS             13B. Under surface: the main color of the younger flower is             yellow/green (RHS 151D). The color of the older flowers is             RHS 13B. Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent             callosities at central junction of the lateral lobes and             base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward             about the column; the midlobe extends forward and is             terminated by 2 stubs appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes             of the labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe is             triangular with a bump and a rib on it. Margin: entire and             weakly undulate. Length: about 17 mm. Width (not flattened):             about 12 mm. Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny with             an raised edge in the middle and a thickening at the end.             Color (when fully opened): Mid lobe: at the base purple (RHS             76B) turns into yellow (RHS 7A). The edges and spots are             orange/red (RHS N34A), at the end some white (RHS NN155C).             Under surface: at the base purple (RHS 75B), edges RHS 71A,             yellow (RHS 7A) and white at the end. lateral lobes main             color is white (RHS NN155C) that turns into yellow (RHS 7A)             with orange/red dots and stripes (RHD N34A). Underside white             (RHS 155A) with yellow haze (RHS 14D). Cirrhi: two little             points. Color: white (RHS NN155C). Pestle (Callosities):             Length: about 3 mm. Width (not flattened): about 3 mm.             Height: 2 mm. Color: White (RHS N155D), on top yellow (RHS             7A) with orange/red dots and stripes (RHS N34A).         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals. Overall             shape: elliptical and weakly cupped. Margin: entire and             weakly undulate. Length: about 25 to 29 mm. Width: about 15             to 22 mm. Apex: oval; dorsal sepal has a small notch.             Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny. Color             (when fully opened): dorsal sepal: main color young flower             is yellow/green (RHS 151D) and of the older flowers RHS 12A.             Spots and stripes are orange/red (RHS N34A). Under surface             is yellow/green (RHS N144B) for the young flowers and the             older flowers are RHS 13B. Veins are yellow/green (RHS             N144A). Lateral sepal: main color young flower is             yellow/green (RHS 151D) and of the older flowers is RHS 12A.             The edges are RHS N144A and stripes/spots are orange/red             (RHS N34A). Under surface: young flowers are yellow/green             (RHS N144B), older flowers are RHS 12A. Veins are             yellow/green (RHS N144A).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 32 to 42 mm. Diameter: about 2 mm.             Texture: glabrous and smooth. Color: At the base green (RHS             143C) turns into yellow/green (RHS 145C). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 9 mm. Diameter: about 6 mm. Color: RHS             NN155C, with a purple haze (RHS 76D).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: Two. Size: about 1 mm. Color: orange             (RHS 24A).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 4 mm. Diameter: about 5 mm. Color: RHS             NN155C. -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Auberge’, as illustrated and described herein. 